me by joining in a social glass at the hotel across the way； I'll
introduce you to Captain Prendergast； who left a leg at Fair Oaks。〃
Drummond would have declined； but a significant pressure on his arm
from Courtland changed his determination。 He followed them to the
hotel and into the presence of the one…legged warrior （who turned
out to be the landlord and barkeeper）； to whom Courtland was
hilariously introduced by Major Reed as 〃the man； sir； who had
pounded my division for three hours at Stony Creek！〃
Major Reed's house was but a few minutes' walk down the dusty lane；
and was presently heralded by the baying of three or four foxhounds
and foreshadowed by a dilapidated condition of picket…fence and
stuccoed gate front。 Beyond it stretched the wooden Doric columns
of the usual Southern mansion； dimly seen through the broad leaves
of the horse…chestnut…trees that shaded it。 There were the usual
listless black shadows haunting the veranda and outer offices
former slaves and still attached house…servants； arrested like
lizards in breathless attitudes at the approach of strange
footsteps； and still holding the brush； broom； duster； or home
implement they had been lazily using； in their fixed hands。 From
the doorway of the detached kitchen； connected by a gallery to the
wing of the mansion； 〃Aunt Martha；〃 the cook； gazed also； with a
saucepan clasped to her bosom； and her revolving hand with the
scrubbing cloth in it apparently stopped on a dead centre。
Drummond； whose gorge had risen at these evidences of hopeless
incapacity and utter shiftlessness； was not relieved by the
presence of Mrs。 Reeda soured； disappointed woman of forty； who
still carried in her small dark eyes and thin handsome lips
something of the bitterness and antagonism of the typical 〃Southern
rights〃 woman； nor of her two daughters； Octavia and Augusta； whose
languid atrabiliousness seemed a part of the mourning they still
wore。 The optimistic gallantry and good fellowship of the major
appeared the more remarkable by contrast with his cypress…shadowed
family and their venomous possibilities。 Perhaps there might have
been a light vein of Southern insincerity in his good humor。
〃Paw；〃 said Miss Octavia； with gloomy confidence to Courtland； but
with a pretty curl of the hereditary lip； 〃is about the only
'reconstructed' one of the entire family。 We don't make 'em much
about yer。 But I'd advise yo' friend； Mr。 Drummond； if he's coming
here carpet…bagging； not to trust too much to paw's 'reconstruction。'
It won't wash。〃 But when Courtland hastened to assure her that
Drummond was not a 〃carpet…bagger；〃 was not only free from any of
the political intrigue implied under that baleful title； but was a
wealthy Northern capitalist simply seeking investment； the young
lady was scarcely more hopeful。 〃I suppose he reckons to pay paw
for those niggers yo' stole？〃 she suggested with gloomy sarcasm。
〃No；〃 said Courtland； smiling； 〃but what if he reckoned to pay
those niggers for working for your father and him？〃
〃If paw is going into trading business with him； if Major Reeda
So'th'n gentlemanis going to keep shop； he ain't such a fool as
to believe niggers will work when they ain't obliged to。 THAT'S
been tried over at Mirandy Dows's； not five miles from here； and
the niggers are half the time hangin' round here takin' holiday。
She put up new quarters for 'em； and tried to make 'em eat together
at a long table like those low…down folks up North； and did away
with their cabins and their melon patches； and allowed it would get
'em out of lying round too much； and wanted 'em to work over…time
and get mo' pay。 And the result was that she and her niece； and a
lot of poor whites； Irish and Scotch； that she had to pick up
''long the river；' do all the work。 And her niece Sally was mo'
than half Union woman during the wah； and up to all No'th'n tricks
and dodges； and swearin' by them； and yet； for all thatthe thing
won't work。〃
〃But isn't that partly the reason？ Isn't her failure a great deal
due to this lack of sympathy from her neighbors？ Discontent is
easily sown； and the negro is still weighted down by superstition；
the Fifteenth Amendment did not quite knock off ALL his chains。〃
〃Yes； but that is nothing to HER。 For if there ever was a person
in this world who reckoned she was just born to manage everything
and everybody； it is Sally Dows！〃
〃Sally Dows！〃 repeated Courtland； with a slight start。
〃Yes； Sally Dows； of Pineville。〃
〃You say she was half Union； but did she have any relations or
orfriendsin the waron your side？ Anywhowere killed in
battle？〃
〃They were all killed； I reckon；〃 returned Miss Reed darkly。
〃There was her cousin； Jule Jeffcourt； shot in the cemetery with
her beau； who； they say； was Sally's too； there were Chet Brooks
and Joyce Masterton； who were both gone on her and both killed too；
and there was old Captain Dows himself； who never lifted his head
again after Richmond was taken； and drank himself to death。 It
wasn't considered healthy to be Miss Sally's relations in those
times； or to be even wantin' to be one。〃
Colonel Courtland did not reply。 The face of the dead young
officer coming towards him out of the blue smoke rose as vividly as
on that memorable day。 The picture and letter he had taken from
the dead man's breast； which he had retained ever since； the
romantic and fruitless quest he had made for the fair original in
after days； and the strange and fateful interest in her which had
grown up in his heart since then； he now knew had only been lulled
to sleep in the busy preoccupation of the last six months； for it
all came back to him with redoubled force。 His present mission and
its practical object； his honest zeal in its pursuit； and the
cautious skill and experience he had brought to it； all seemed to
be suddenly displaced by this romantic and unreal fantasy。 Oddly
enough it appeared now to be the only reality in his life； the rest
was an incoherent； purposeless dream。
〃IsisMiss Sally married？〃 he asked； collecting himself with an
effort。
〃Married？ Yes； to that farm of her aunt's！ I reckon that's the
only thing she cares for。〃
Courtland looked up； recovering his usual cheerful calm。 〃Well； I
think that after luncheon I'll pay my respects to her family。 From
what you have just told me the farm is certainly an experiment
worth seeing。 I suppose your father will have no objection to give
me a letter to Miss Dows？〃
CHAPTER II。
Nevertheless； as Colonel Courtland rode deliberately towards Dows'
Folly； as the new experiment was locally called； although he had
not abated his romantic enthusiasm in the least； he was not sorry
that he was able to visit it under a practical pretext。 It was
rather late now to seek out Miss Sally Dows with the avowed intent
of bringing her a letter from an admirer who had been dead three
years； and whose memory she had probably buried。 Neither was it
tactful to recall a sentiment which might have been a weakness of
which she was ashamed。 Yet； clear…headed and logical as Courtland
was in his ordinary affairs； he was nevertheless not entirely free
from that peculiar superstition which surrounds every man's
romance。 He believed there was something more than a mere
coincidence in his unexpectedly finding himself in such favorable
conditions for making her acquaintance。 For the restif there was
any resthe would simply trust to fate。 And so； believing himself
a cool； sagacious reasoner； but being actually； as far as Miss Dows
was concerned； as blind； fatuous； and unreasoning as any of her
previous admirers； he rode complacently forward until he reached
the lane that led to the Dows plantation。
Here a better kept roadway and fence； whose careful repair would
have delighted Drummond； seemed to augur well for the new
enterprise。 Presently； even the old…fashioned local form of the
fence； a slanting zigzag； gave way to the more direct line of post
and rail in the Northern fashion。 Beyond it presently appeared a
long low frontage of modern buildings which； to Courtland's
surprise； were entirely new in structure and design。 There was no
reminiscence of the usual Southern porticoed gable or columned
veranda。 Yet it was not Northern either。 The factory…like outline
of facade was partly hidden in Cherokee rose and jessamine。
A long roofed gallery connected the buildings and became a veranda
to one。 A broad； well…rolled gravel drive led from the open gate
to the newest building； which seemed to be the office； a smaller
path diverged from it to the corner house； which； despite its
severe simplicity； had a more residential appearance。 Unlike
Reed's house； there were no lounging servants or field hands to be
seen； they were evidently attending to their respective duties。
Dismounting； Courtland tied his horse to a post at the office door
and took the smaller path to the corner house。
The door was open to the fragrant afternoon breeze wafted through
the rose and jessamine。 So also was a side door opening from the
hall into a long parlor or sitting…room that ran the whole width of
the house。 Courtland entered it。 It was prettily furnished； but
everything had the air of freshness and of being uncharacteristically
new。 It was empty； but a faint hammering was audible on the rear
wall of the house； through the two open French windows at the back；
curtained with trailing vines； which gave upon a sunlit courtyard。
Courtland walked to the window。 Just before it； on the ground；
stood a small light ladder； which he gently put aside to gain a
better view of the courtyard as he put on his hat； and stepped out
of the open window。
In this attitude he suddenly felt his hat tipped from his head；
followed almost instantaneously by a falling slipper； and the
distinct impression of a very small foot on the crown of his head。
An indescribable sensation passed over him。 He hurriedly stepped
back into the room； just as a small striped…stockinged foot was as
hastily drawn up above the top of the window with the feminine
exclamation； 〃Good gracious me！〃
Lingering for an instant； only to assure himself that the fair
speaker had secured he